Leader of Mahdi Organization convicted of federal RICO,
narcotics conspiracy and murder charges; 20 other members
await sentencing after pleading guilty

Washington, D.C. - United States Attorney Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., Chief Charles Ramsey of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), R.C. Gamble, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Washington Division Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Jeffrey R. Roehm, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Washington Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Theresa C. Chambers of the United States Park Police (USPP) announced today that Abdur Rahim Mahdi, also known as "Chief" or "Big Chief," 25, the leader of the Mahdi organization, also known as the "Mahdi Boyz," the "1-4," or the "1-4 Assassins," was convicted today by a jury in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia of forty-eight (48) criminal counts, including narcotics conspiracy, RICO conspiracy, first degree premeditated murder, multiple counts of assault with intent to murder while armed, obstruction of justice, perjury and related narcotics and firearms charges. The defendant faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle on November 7, 2003.

Today's verdict represents the culmination of a long-term joint investigation initially begun by the Metropolitan Police Department, and joined by the DEA, ATF, United States Park Police, and the United States Attorney's Office. Starting in early 2000, these law enforcement agencies, working together, targeted drug trafficking and violence in Northwest Washington, D.C. The investigation resulted in the controlled purchase or seizure of thirty-two firearms, approximately two and one-half kilograms of crack cocaine, three-quarters a kilogram of powder cocaine, 150 grams of marijuana, sixty-five grams of heroin, and $40,000 in cash. The joint investigation focused on a violent, drug selling organization known as the "Mahdi Boyz" which operated in the 1300 blocks of Randolph, Shepard and Taylor Streets, N.W., and the 3800, 3900 and 4000 blocks of 14th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. (PSA 409). The Mahdi organization was led by Abdur Mahdi and other members of the Mahdi family, including Malik Mahdi, also known as "Freek" or "Freekman;" Rahammad M. Mahdi, also known as "Rock" or "Rockman;" Musa M. Mahdi; and Nadir M. Mahdi, also known as "Smokey." Twenty other members of the Mahdi organization, including Abdur Mahdi's four brothers, previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

During the trial, the government established that the members of the Mahdi organization supplied powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana to other members and associates of the organization who operated in the same general area and who sold drugs to customers from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. From 1997 to the present, the organization was responsible for the distribution of numerous kilograms of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and a very large quantity of marijuana. The government further established at trial that Abdur Mahdi and other members of the Mahdi organization frequently used violence for various purposes including, to intimidate citizens in the neighborhood, to intimidate and protect themselves from rival drug dealers, to engage in retaliatory acts, to wage wars over drug territory with rivals, and to silence potential witnesses. Among the most significant acts of violence committed by Abdur Mahdi were the following: the November 17, 1999 murder of an innocent bystander, Curtis Hattley, who was shot in the back while riding in a car; the September 11, 1999 stabbing assault in an alley near the Mahdi home, located in the 1300 block of Randolph Street, N.W., which occurred when the victim failed to obey Abdur Mahdi's order to leave "his" alley; the October 9, 1999 armed kidnaping and robbery during which Abdur Mahdi bound his victim with duct tape and tortured him; the October 20, 1999 shooting and attempted murder of a rival and a female friend at close range; the November 20, 1999 attemptedmurder and shooting of two innocent bystanders, including a fifteen-year-old female junior high school student; the May 26, 2000 shooting and attempted murder of the leader of the 4th and Delafield crew; and the June 6, 2000 shooting and attempted murder of a member of the 4th and Delafield crew.

In announcing the verdict, United States Attorney Howard, Chief Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge Gamble, Special Agent in Charge Roehm, and Chief Chambers praised the collective efforts of the law enforcement officers from all of the agencies for their investigation and specifically commended Metropolitan Police Department Fourth District Commander Kathy Lanier, Captain William Manning, Detective Charles "Tony" Porter, Sergeant Art Gregory, Sergeant William Fitzgerald, Sergeant Robert Merrick, Detective Avis Packard, Officer Robert Calligaro, Detective Thomas Fonz, Investigator Curtis Prince, Investigator Delroy Burton, Mobile Crime Technician Richard S. Griffin, Mobile Crime Technician Curtis Lancaster, DEA Special Agent Paul Maloney, ATF Special Agent Ashan Benedict, Deputy United States Marshall Chris Street, Deputy United States Marshall Tommy O'Brien, and United States Park Police Officers Wayne Humberson, Jerry Marshall, and Gregory Monahan for their efforts during the investigation and prosecution. Also cited were the efforts of paralegals Kenneth Mansfield and Valerie Augustus and Assistant United States Attorneys Roderick L. Thomas, James G. Flood, and Stephen J. Pfleger, who successfully prosecuted the case.

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